Lightweight travel trailers with a bathroom 2024

Looking for a lightweight travel trailer?

Lightweight travel trailers are quite popular here in Australia. We’ve had one and we loved it.

We love how we have no concerns about whether our SUV can tow it, and it adds negligible costs to our fuel consumption.

However, what our small travel trailer lacks… is a bathroom. (Yes, it’s true!)

So when it comes time for us to upgrade our small travel trailer (i.e. when we can afford it) we’ll be going with another small and light pull behind trailer.

But this time, with a bathroom.

Since I’m always looking for small RV travel trailers, I thought I’d compile a list of what I find here.

Here’s our criteria:

Small Travel Trailer

‘Small’ is obviously a subjective term. So in regards to these small travel trailers, I’m going to be looking for anything under 20ft (6 metres, for those of us on metric)

Lightweight Travel Trailer

Did you know that small and lightweight travel trailers are sometimes called lite weight and ultralight travel trailers?

But no one has defined what makes a camper lightweight, or ultralight weight!

So I’m going with lightweight. And I’m saying that lightweight is under 4,000 pounds GVWR (approx. 1800kg)

A note about travel trailer weights

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) – is the maximum permissible weight of the unit when fully loaded. 

UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight) – is the typical weight of the unit as manufactured at the factory. It is sometimes referred to as the Dry Weight.

CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity) ** – is the amount of weight available for fresh potable water, cargo, additional optional equipment and accessories. CCC is equal to GVWR minus UVW. 

How much do ultra light travel trailers weigh?

If you’re interested, I would say that an ultra light travel trailer weighs under 3,000 pounds. (Approx 1,360kg) Totally arbitrary, but based on the few articles I’ve found online.

Sleeps

Sleeps two people. This can be either a double bed or two single beds.

Ideally it would be a permanent bed, not one that has to be made up from the dinette or sofa every night, but I think that might be getting a bit too fussy. These are small travel trailers we’re looking at, after all.

With a bathroom

This can be a separate toilet and shower, or a wet bath (toilet and shower combined) 

And inside kitchen

I’ve seen some lite travel trailers where the kitchen is outside, like on the teardrop campers. But I’m not looking at those, just ones where you can cook, eat, sleep and use the bathroom all inside the small travel trailer.

Please note: I’ve included the length (in feet) and maximum trailer capacity GVWR (in pounds) where it’s been available for me to see. But please don’t take this as law! Do your own research to ensure the specs given are correct.

What are the best lightweight travel trailers?

Figuring out what are the the best lightweight travel trailers is something that only YOU can determine based on what YOU want and need in a light travel trailer.

What I’ve done, is compile a list of the best light weight travel trailers that I could find online. But what is best for me, will probably be different to what is best for you.

So here we go… 

Airstream Basecamp 16

We start off with a bang! At just 16’2 this great little Airstream Basecamp 16 fits beautifully into our criteria. 

It’s not that classic Airstream shape that we all know so well but it’s still a stylish design and sleek aluminium finish.

They’re sturdy little campers too, perfect for those that want to hit the outdoor adventures. 

https://www.airstream.com/travel-trailers/basecamp/

Length: 16’2
GVWR: 3,500 lbs
Price: starting at $46,900

Airstream Bambi 16RB

But if it’s that classic Airstream shape you’re after… well you’re going to LOVE the Bambi as much as I do! With her little rounded ends, sleek silver and diminutive size, she’s a stunner.

And then when you look inside, you see a practical layout (with, I will admit, the worlds smallest bathroom :-O), tasteful decor and modern conveniences.

The Airstream Bambi comes in 16′, 19′, 20′ and 22′ lengths, so you’re spoilt for choice!

https://www.airstream.com/travel-trailers/bambi/

Length: 16‘1
GVWR: 3,500 lbs
Price: starting at $60,400

Atia RV GU147

Atia RV produce the unique Garagable Unit (GU) which has a pop-top roof.

This style is very popular in Australia because the pop-top roof allows you to store the trailer in a garage or carport (often these are not tall enough for a full height travel trailer).

The other benefit of the pop-top roof is that there is less wind resistance when driving, so fuel economy is improved.

Yet when you get to camp, you pop up the roof and have a comfortable head height to move about in.

Atia RV have 3 campers within our criteria (less than 20ft with a bathroom), the GU147, GU167BH and the GU167FB.

https://atia-rv.com/atia-rv-garagable-unit-gu/

Length: 15‘8
GVWR: 2,700 lbs

Aliner LXE

This little guy manages to fit everything into one tiny little package!

The toilet/shower combo would take some getting used to (it’s tiny, and it folds up from what is basically a box) and would not be something I’d like; but it does fulfil the criteria of having a toilet and shower, so we’re keeping it in here.

https://aliner.com/campers/lxe/

Length: 15ft
GVWR: 3,000 lbs

Braxton Creek Bushwhacker Plus 15FK

Everything you need and want, all in this lightweight travel trailer package.

There are 5 other floor plans in this range, some of them even designed to fit a family travelling together.

https://www.braxtoncreek.com/model/bushwhacker-plus

Length: 15’6
GVWR: 3,260 lbs

Casita Spirit Deluxe

I’m sure you knew this one was going to be in this list. Am I right? These little fibreglass travel trailers are known for being small and light travel trailers.

I’m so, so, so glad to see the upgrade in the interior decor too!

https://casitatraveltrailers.com/spirit/

Length: 17ft
Dry Weight: 2,480 lbs (Only the dry weight is shown on their website)
Price: $26,996

Casita have a number of different layout options, some with bathrooms, some without; but all of them would fit in the ‘lightweight travel trailer’ category.

Coachmen Clipper Travel Trailer 14CR

Having the dinette convert into the bed is what really gives this little trailer lots of space inside. Even though the bathroom is still tiny, at least it’s not a wet bath so the shower is seperate from the toilet.

https://coachmenrv.com/clipper-travel-trailers/14CR/9266

Length: 16’6
GVWR: 3,750 lbs

You may also want to check out the Coachmen Nano and Viking Ultra-Lite.

Forest River r-pod 171 Travel Trailer

Having everything you need in one tidy little package like the R-Pod… I would be very happy with this set up!

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/r-pod-west-coast/RP-171C/9112

Length: 19ft
GVWR: 3,252 lbs

There are lots more r-pod layouts for you to check out on their website too.

Another Forest River product to look at is the Flagstaff E-Pro. A bit heavier at 3,866 lbs GVWR but is still a lightweight. You can see the Flagstaff E-Pro here.  

Gulf Stream Ameri-Lite 14RE

Gulf Stream call this model a super lite weight travel trailer, and compared to most travel trailers with all these features, that name kinda fits!

https://www.gulfstreamcoach.com/products/light-weight/amerilite/model/14re

Length: 15’10”
GVWR: 3,800 lbs

Gulf Stream make it quite easy to find all their lightest travel trailers. This overview page shows all the Ameri-Lite lightweight travel trailer plans and their weights.  

InTech Sol Dawn

With that huge panoramic window, it’s easy to imagine living and working in a space like this. Maybe it wouldn’t feel like such a small box when you can let so much of the outside in!

https://intech.com/rv/models/sol/dawn/

Length: 16ft
GVWR: 3,500 lbs
Price: $36,463

Jayco Jay Flight SLX 154BH

Here’s one that could be perfect for families. The Jayco Jay Flight SLX has a dinette that converts into a double bed, plus bunks. There’s even a small tub in the bathroom (with shower over) so little one’s can have a bath if wanted.

https://www.jayco.com/rvs/travel-trailers/2023-jay-flight-slx/154BH-west/

Length: 18 ft
GVWR: 3,600 lbs
Price: starting at $24,309

KZ RV Sportsmen Classic 130RB

With a layout that is familiar across many of these small travel trailers, the KZ RV Sportsmen packs it all in. A dining area that converts to a bed, a sofa/relaxing area, and a bathroom with a seperate shower and toilet.

https://www.kz-rv.com/products/sportsmen-classic-travel-trailers/130RB.html

Length:16’9″
GVWR: 2,800 lbs

Lance 1475 Travel Trailer

It’s quite refreshing to see the updated decor options on the Lance 1475 travel trailer. I’m sure there will be people who hate the new grey palette just as much as I hate the old brown palette, but I’m very glad to see some updates.

And those swivel captains chairs look for comfy!

https://www.lancecamper.com/travel-trailers/1475/

Length: 19’8″
GVWR: 4,500 lbs

nüCamp TAB 320S

Now this is a tiny little number. But it’s got the shower and toilet, and the inside kitchen, so it’s on the list!

https://nucamprv.com/tab-camper/

Length: 15’3
GAWR: 2,900 lbs

I really love the Tab 400 as well (which I wrote about in a post called: Small Campers that have everything you need) and it fits into the small and light criteria as well. 

Scamp

I am sorry if you’re a Scamp lover… but I think the Scamps might just be the ugliest little campers I’ve ever laid eyes on. Both inside and outside they look horrendous! (Personal opinion, of course). 

BUT – I can’t help but acknowledge just how compact, functional and practical everything is. 

These fibreglass trailers are just 16ft yet manage to contain everything you need. And being made of fibreglass, I’m guessing they’re insulated pretty well too.

https://www.scamptrailers.com/showroom/16-deluxe-trailers

Length: 16ft
GVWR: 2,600 lbs

Travel Lite Rove Lite

Now that we’re at the end of this list, there’s not too much left to say about the  Rove Lite. 

It has a nice modern-ish interior and everything you need.

https://travelliterv.com/rvs/2023-rove-lite-travel-trailers/

Length: 16’6″
GVWR: 2,500 lbs

What is the lightest travel trailer with a bathroom?

According to this list, the lightest travel trailer with a bathroom, is the Atia RV Garagable Unit. It’s a well laid out space and weight has really been kept to a minimum.

And there we have it. The best lightweight travel trailers with a bathroom, that I could find online.

Do you have others that I should add to the list? Don’t forget, they don’t have to be ultra lite travel trailers, but they should be under 4,000 lbs GVWR and less than 20ft long.